03/16/2022 Turkey (International Christian Concern) – The Council of Europe’s Committee of Ministers announced an Interim Resolution urging Turkey to pay Greek Cypriots outstanding damages related to the former’s invasion of the island in 1974. In 2009, the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) ruled that Turkey violated human rights because of its failure to adequately address the aftermath of the invasion.
The ruling includes that Turkey must pay the “just satisfaction” to the relatives of nine Greek Cypriots who are still missing. Turkey was mandated by the court to pay 180,000 Euros in damages by the end of 2009. To date, Turkey has not paid the amount. The amount set forth by the court was also the largest amount of compensation decided by the ECHR.
Turkey invaded the historically Christian island of Cyprus in 1974 and since then has occupied the northern third of the country and set up its own government, recognized only by Turkey. Turkish natives moved to the northern section as well to bolster the rationale and Turkish presence.
Despite pressure from the Council of Europe and the ECHR, Turkey does not take the international bodies seriously. In 2014, the Turkish Foreign Minister said the ECHR ruling would “neither be binding nor carry any value.” More recently, Turkey has ignored both bodies’ calls to release human rights activist and philanthropist Osman Kavala.
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